Forest Whitaker Circles Role of ‘Sleazy Bookie’ in “Out of the Furnace” (Zoe Saldana Co-Stars)

Forest Whitaker Circles Role of 'Sleazy Bookie' in "Out of the Furnace" (Zoe Saldana Co-Stars)

I announcedZoe Saldana‘s attachment to play Christian Bale‘s ex-wife in the drama Out of the Furnace last month. Now, thanks to a heads up from the playlist, it looks like Forest Whitaker is in negotiations for a supporting turn in the Scott Cooper-helmed film.

To recap, Out of the Furnace, a “gritty throwback to 1970s movies” and based on Brad Ingelsby‘s script The Low Dweller, revolves around an ex-con, played by Christian Bale, who is determined to avenge the death of his younger brother once he’s released from prison. Saldana would play a waitress married to the town’s sheriff and Bale’s ex-wife.

An update from Deadline reports that Bale’s character Slim is released after seven years in prison, and “only wants to follow through on his promise to marry his long-suffering girlfriend. (Zoe Saldana) That’s until his brother (Casey Affleck) gets murdered after getting involved in a gambling racket, and it becomes all about revenge.”

Whitaker is in talks of playing a “sleazy bookie” and Billy Bob Thornton is also in negotiations to play the villain.

I’m not sure if the first synopsis for Saldana’s character still stands. Is she married to the town’s sheriff and she’s still Bale’s long suffering GF/ex-wife in the film? Hmm..

Tambay last told you about Whitaker’s negotiations to headline Lee Daniels’ The Butler, a long awaited project which may also star David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey.